Women show smartphone screens with the name of Japan’s new era, “Reiwa”, in Osaka on April 1, following its announcement by the government earlier in the day. Photo: Kyodo

Opinion

Opinion

Outside In by David Dodwell

Does Japan’s Reiwa era promise a new economic dawn even as China rises?

The Heisei era under Emperor Akihito was blighted by decades of economic stagnation. As the country enters the Reiwa era under Naruhito, there are encouraging signs that Japan has found a new regional role